Couch-hammock.



I. E. PALMER.

GOUGH HAMMOGK.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 16. 1910.

Patented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

8 inventor Isaac E. Iahnen by @wj an aiiy-s;

I. B. PALMER.

COUCH HAMMOGK.

APPLICATION run JUNE 16,1910.

Patented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inven to r Isaao EPaZa-ner.

twig-s wiinees UNITED STA'IEIS PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC E..PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE I. E. PALMER 00., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

COUCH-HAMMOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application flied June 16, 1910. Serial No. 567,122.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Isaac E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of l\Iiddleto\vn, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Couch-Hammocks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to couch hammocks.

In order that the principle of the invention may readily he understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a couch hammock having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of a couch hammock taken between the suspension ends; Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2 ofthat form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, one suspension end being shown in elevation; Fig. 4 is an end elevation partly broken away of another form of my invention; Fig. 5 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 4E; and Fig. 6 is a view partially in plan and partially in cross section of one end of a couch hammock embodying my invention.

Couch hammocks are provided with frames supported by suspension ends either attached thereto or forming a part of the general hammock body. Such hammocks are customarily provided with mattresses, but in practice the upper edges of the upstanding sides have sagged or gapped away from mattresses, thus rendering the couch hammock unsightly in appearance. Moreover, hammocks provided with upstanding side edges attached or supported by the suspension ends do not have well defined, substantially rectangular corners, owing to the tendency of said upstanding sides to draw in upon the corners unless corner brackets be provided, such as disclosed in my Patent No. eraser.

It is in accordance with the preferred form of my invention to provide means whereby the upstanding hammock sides will snugly engage and position themattress at its opposite sides. to prevent sagging or gapping of the said upstanding sides and to provide well defined, preferably substantially rectangular corners, all without the necessity of employing corner brackets such as disclosed in mysaid patent. As hereinafter more fully set forth, my invention relates particularly to the wind shield and hence my invention is not limited in its nature or application to any particular type or form of couchhammoek. Therefore, my invention may or may not be employed in connection with upstanding sides for the purpose of positioning a mattress, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and first to the construction shown in Fig. 2, the side members of the frame of the hammock are represented at 11, the suspension ends at 2-2, the mattress at 3 and the upstandingsides at 4-4. The said upstanding sides may be a part of the general hammock body underlying the frame and provided with upstanding ends, or they may be structurally separate from the ends and body if the latter be provided, but preferably attached to the ends, either by a lacing as indicated at 5 in Fig. 1 or by sewing. In the type of hammock shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a cloth seating 6 overlying the frame and extending to the under face thereof, where it is provided with pockets having therein longitudinal strips 7 to the frame. In that form of hammock shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the suspension ends are secured to the under face of the frame by transverse end strips 9. In that construction shown in Fig. 2, the upper edges of the upstanding sides 4 terminate substantially flush with the top of the mattress 3, so as to present no obstruction to a person sitting crosswise of the hammock. In order to cause the upstanding sides snugly to engage the lateral edges of the mattress and thereby to position the same, I apply to the said upper edges a strip preferably in the form of a bar or rod which may he of wood or metal Or some other relatively heavy material. The strips are shown at 1010 in Fig. 2 and preferably are inserted in longitudinal pockets 11 in the upper edges of said upstanding sides Said pockets are shown as of the full length of said sides and the strips preferably extend from one suspension end to the other,

7 secured by screws 8,01- otherwise so that they bear against said suspension ends and prevent their being drawn inward toward each other when the said upstanding sides are laced to the ends or otherwise 5 drawn tight with respect thereto. More over the said strips prevent any sagging or gapping of the upper edges of said upstanding sides with respect to the top of the mattress even though said strips be of some- 19 what less length than the entire distance between the suspension ends. Said strips are preferably of elastic or yielding ma terial, so that when the hammock is subjected to weight in use and the mattress yields downwardly, the said strips and therefore the upstanding sides will also yield, but will be restored to normal position when the mattress is relieved of weight. In Fig. 2, I have represented the said up- 29 standing sides as sewed, or otherwise secured to the edge of the seating 6, but it is aparent that they may be aiitached direct y to the frame itself. In accordance with my invention at one of the hammock sides, a wind shield may be provided, which is formed integral with or secured to one of the upstanding sides. In Figs. 1 and 3, I have represented a wind shield 12 integral with one of the upstanding sides and at its 30 upper edge having applied thereto a strip 13 of wood or other suitable material inserted in a. pocket 14. The said wind shield is laced or otherwise suitably secured to the upstanding ends 2. The strip 13 is so similar in extent to the strips 10, 10. Said strip is of the full length of the said wind shield 12 and preferably extends from one Suspension end to the other, so that it bears against said suspension ends and prevents their being drawn inward toward each other when the said upstanding wind shield is laced to the ends or otherwise drawn tight with respect thereto. The ends of the wooden or other strip are connected in a s5 substantially fixed but preferably non-rigid manner to the suspension ends, whereby when pressure is exerted against the strip when the hammock is in use and so as outwardly to how the strip, such pressure will so riot disturb the normal position of the transversely extending suspension ends, nor will it result in disrupting strain upon the end connections between the said strip and the said suspension ends. Were an absolutely rigid connection here employed, the outward bowing of the strip would tend to compel an inward inclination of the front ends of the Spreaders in the suspension ends, but such inward inclination would be resisted by the suspension cords or by the weight of an occupant leaning thereagainst, with the result that weakening or disruptive strain would be brought upon the corner connections of the said strip and the said "sus- 55 pension ends. This is avoided by the construction herein disclosed. Preferably I do not employ an absolutely rigid connection.

So far as I am aware I am the first to employ in a couch hammock having a frame or seat and flexible suspension ends therefor, an ends-positioning wind shield therefor, consisting of a flexible, sheet-like member at the rear ofthe hammock and extending to a sufficient height to constitute also a back rest, said member having means firmly and detachably to connect its upper corners to'said suspension ends and having its upper edge provided with a longitudinally extending, relatively heavy strip secured thereto, the ends of said strip being arranged to bear against the flexible suspension ends to brace the same against inward movement and preventing sagging of said wind shield, and desire to claim the same broadly. I have herein shown one embodiment of the means for effecting my purpose.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have showna slightly modified form of my invention, wherein the upstanding sides 15 are sewed to the sus pension ends 2 and are themselves provided with a suitable number of tabs 16 extending to the under face of the frame and there provided with eyes to engage pins or spurs 17, thereby to secure said upstanding sides in place. It is evident that in this form of my invention when the frame yields or bends downwardly in use the upstanding sides 15 are themselves drawn downwardly by means of the tab 16 attached to the frame, so that the frame and sides yield together and are restored together to normal position when the hammock is relieved of weight. In this form of my invention the ends 18 of the pockets 11 are normally left open so that the strips 10 may be inserted therein at any time after completion of the hammock.

Within the scope of my invention, I may provide more than one strip for each upstanding side, the plurality of strips more tightly engaging the mattress and preventing displacement thereof and of said sides with respect thereto.

In that form of my invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I preferably provide a flexible metallic seating 20, but it is apparcut that in each form of the invention any suitable seating may be provided. The suspension ends may be of any suitable character provided they are flexible and can be the end suspension members, the sheet-like member prevents outward movement of said suspension end members, if the points of suspension of the hammock are spaced apart a distance greater than the, length of the couch hammock.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claim.

Claim:

A couch hammock comprising 1n combination, a frame or seat, flexible suspenslon end members thereior, and an end-positioning \V' sheet-like member at the rear of the hammock and extending to a suiiicient height to constitute also a back rest, said member having means firmly and detachably to e0nnect its upper corners to said suspension end members and having its upper edge provided with a lon 'itudinally extending, relatively heavy stiflening strip secured thereto, the ends of said strip being arranged to engage the flexible suspension end members to brace the same against inward movement and preventing sagging of said wind shield. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER. Witnesses FRED. E. FOWLER, GEO. C. Hams.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentl, Washington, D. 0.

l shield therefor consisting of a. flexible,

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,098,293.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,098,293, granted May 26, 1914,

upon the application of Isaac E. Palmer, of Middlctown, Connecticut, for an improvement in Couch-Hammocks, an error appears in the printed specification requiring u correction as follows: Page 1, after line 31, insert the paragraph This application is in. part a d-ivisimz of my application Serial Nb. 537,270, filed January 10. 1910, now patent No. 980,167, ddted December 27, 1910.; and that the said Letters Patent should read with this correction thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the easc in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of June, A. D., 1914.

.T. T. NEWTON,

[emu] Acting 00mm issioner of Patents. 

